Pirates’ Burnett Out 2-3 Months

J. Meric/Getty Images(BRADENTON, Fla.) -- Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will miss two to three months after undergoing facial surgery after he fouled a ball off his face on Wednesday during a bunting drill.

Burnett had successful surgery on Friday in Pittsburgh for a broken orbital bone on his right eye.

The Pirates had hoped for Burnett to be their top guy in the young pitching rotation and will now have to look elsewhere.

"The initial step will be to heal from the surgery," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Secondly, we will recondition his arm and body to where he was prior to the injury. Lastly, we will put A.J. through the same progression as he would have gone through here in spring training."

Burnett came over from the Yankees on Feb. 19 after a trade. He had hoped for a fresh start but will now have to watch from the dugout.